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No. 626,995. Patented lune i3, I899.

'W. C. HAIGH.

GAME.

(Applicatidn filed Mar. 3, 1897.)

2 SheMs-Shaet I.

1: m 'r T S PATENT OFFICE. I

GAME.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 626,995, dated June 13, 1899.

Application filed March 3,1897. Serial No. 625,887- (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM CHANCELLOR I-IAIGI-I, asubject of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, and a resident of Chorltoncum-Hardy, near Manchester, England, have invented a new Game orEntertain mentl/Vhich Simulates Fishing, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a special form of amusement which simulates fishing and which can either be in the form of a toy or be made upon a large scale for public entertainment.

In accordance with my invention and as applied for public entertainment I employ a large trough, tank, or natural reservoir some ten or fifteen feet diameter and about seven or eight feet deep and filled or nearly filled with an opaque liquid. This tank is, by preference, let into the ground or floor of the compartment in which it is situated, and its top edge is, by preference, decorated with rockery, due, in imitation of a natural pond or lake. WVithin this tank and near the fioor thereof I mount a table, platform, or support, by preference concentrically disposed within said tank and free to revolve therein. Upon the said table is a number of toy fishes which have a sufficient gravity or weight to lie on the table when the latter is rotated and be carried around thereby. Each fish is provided with a loop or link or hook or is so shaped or formed as to provide means for engagingwith a fishing-rod, hook, or link held in the water. The water being opaque, the table and toy fishes are invisible.

The game or entertainment consists in rotating or otherwise moving the table within :thehtank and holding out fishing-rods protion may be more readily understood and carried into practical effect I have hereunto annexed a sheet of drawings and will now proceed to describe the same with the letters of reference marked thereon.

On Sheet 1, Figure 1 illustrates a general perspective view of my invention as adapted for public entertainment. Fig. 2 illustrates a transverse sectional View of my invention on a miniature scale or in the form of a toy. Figs. 3 and lillustrate, respectively, the form of fish-hook preferred and one of the fishes.

The nature of my invention being very obvious from the drawings, it scarcely needs fur ther description except to say that it consists of a trough, tank, dish, or reservoir A of any suitable form, depth, or size (according to its use) and artificial fishes O, placed on a moving table B or otherwise disposed and caused to movein the water and designed to engage with fish-hook D upon the line of a fishingrod.

For public entertainment the tank A is (by preference) let into the floor of a room and surrounded with rockery, ferns, moss, &c., in

imitation of a natural pond. The table revolves slowly (about one revolution in two and one-half minutes) and continuously or otherwise upon a central aXis under the infiuence of any suitable gearing or motive force.

The speed at which the fishes travel is important in that a quick speed or movement would tend to ruffle the water, and for. the purpose of perfect semblance to ordinary fishing they move slowly.

As applied to a toy, the table is either driven by small cords, pulleys, and Winch-handle, or by clockwork E beneath the tank, and with the winding-spindle F extending upward within a tube G to a point above the level of the water, where it may be covered by rockery, fiagstaff, or artificial bridge H. The table is supported by tube I from plate J, which is in driving contact with the spindle F. The clock mechanism is wound up by turning said spindle F and is started or stopped by pulling or releasing cord or rod K.

The fishes are each formed with a link L or equivalent device for engaging with the bait-hook D; but in lieu of hook and link the fishes may be caught by magnetic baits,

which, however, would scarcely be stron g enough to sustain the weight of the fish except'in the smaller application ofuny invention.

While I prefer a single table and for it to revolve continuously upon a central axis, I may employ two or more smaller tables in the same tank on the same plane and all driven in the same or opposite directions and continuously, reciprocatively, and with or without a tilting, rocking, or tortuous movement.

With an oblong or other shape of tank I may cause the table or tables to move to and fro only or at right angles and diagonally alternately.

With the toy a lid may be provided and the top part of the tank recessed and decorated with fixed rockery, as shown.

The water is rendered opaque by chemical coloring-matter or by the addition of a small quantity of milk in the case of the toy, which is kept thoroughly dissipated by the movethe fins or tail and flaps them to and fro in imitation of the struggles of a fish to get unhooked. Likewise the fishes may be made hollow and arranged to open for the deposit of presents or toys.

Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of'my said invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details, relative proportions, or dimensions of my improved toy fishing apparatus, as the same may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention, and

hat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In com b'ination,a stationary tank with small central opening; a tube centrally mounted in said tank and over said opening; a spindle vertically mounted within said tube, passing through said opening and capable of rotation; clockwork below said tank connected to said spindle and serving to rotate the same; a plate connected to said spindle and capable of revolving therewith; a flanged tubular sleeve suspended from said plate; and a disk or table carried and rotated by said sleeve, plate and spindle near the fioor of the tank, as and for the purposes set forth.

WILLIAM CIIANOELLOR llAIGl'I.

\Vitnesses:

WALTER GUNN, EMILY GUNN. 

